Becoming Offense Proof

There is an epidemic spreading like a disease across the earth. I have seen it in every nation I have been to. We can easily excuse it because we are so used to it. The name of the disease is “taking an offense.” We need to become offense proof. It’s so easy to feel offended when something in which we feel strongly about is challenged, or if a situation comes to a different conclusion than we had hoped for. Proverbs 18:19 says, “An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city.” Taking an offense allows the devil to build a stronghold around us based on unforgiveness.  From that stronghold, the devil can attempt to cut us off from others in the body of Christ. In the scriptures, prayer and forgiveness are often coupled together. For example, “If you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25). Forgiving others is crucial to maintaining a healthy, intimate relationship with Jesus. It keeps us from being offended! When we look to the cross, nothing else matters. Forgiving someone does not mean what they did or said was right. It may have been very wrong. But we forgive others to keep an offense from taking root in our lives. Let’s purpose in our hearts to be offense proof!